Severe storms will impact more than 50 million people from Oklahoma to New Jersey
This system will move into an area with above-average temperatures and a lot of moisture surging in from the Gulf of Mexico, creating the perfect environment for thunderstorms.
By Monday that same system will push into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the country, impacting more than 50 million people.
Damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes are the main threats from this system, forecasters say.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a slight risk, level 2 of 5, of severe storms for portions of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska on Saturday. The primary threat looks to be isolated large hail, but damaging winds and an isolated tornado are also possible.
By Sunday morning, the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms becomes higher as the system shifts east.
The SPC has already issued an enhanced risk, level 3 of 5, of severe storms from much of the mid-Mississippi Valley region, including St. Louis and Little Rock.
Sunday’s threat begins with individual storms merging into a strong line by Sunday evening.
The system shifts farther east Monday, bringing the severe storm threat to areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
There is a slight risk, level 2 out of 5, Monday for much of the southern and central Appalachian region including Atlanta, Knoxville, Charlotte, and Raleigh.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible for cities such as New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, and Virginia Beach.
CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett contributed to this report.
